The days of horrible hospital food are over.
Patients can get a taste of bedside fine dining with choices such as curried lamb, chicken congee, kashmiri curry, falafels, pizza, vanilla bean panna cotta and baked cheesecake.
The first meals on the revamped menu were served at Westmead Hospital last Wednesday night and has been rolled out to Cumberland, Auburn, Blacktown, Cumberland and Mount Druitt.
HealthShare NSW - the state government agency responsible for provision of patient meals in public hospitals began revamping the menu with WSLHD dieticians last November to increase the flavour and nutrition of meals.
The menu is different from other parts of Sydney with more Middle Eastern, Asian and Indian cuisine to cater for western Sydney’s multicultural population.
‘‘When the Garling Report was released a few years ago, one of the recommendations that needed to be made was the improvement of the food,’’ HealthShare NSW food service dietician Lillian Forrest said.
‘‘Our main goal was to produce food that was tasty and enjoyable. There weren’t many unfinished plates of food on the first night. Patients get to choose their meals on the day, which makes it easier to recall what they’re eating. It’s been shown in the past that patients who eat well in hospital are likely to go home sooner.’’
For patients who don’t like fancy food, there’s macaroni cheese, soup, roasts, steak, chicken schnitzel, casseroles, pies, fish, rissoles and chocolate pudding.
Vegetarians and diabetics are well catered for.
Most of the 600 meals (three main meals plus morning tea, afternoon tea and supper) served in WSLHD hospitals daily are prepared by chefs.
Health minister Jillian Skinner gave the menu the thumbs up when she sampled the new dishes at Westmead last Thursday.
“Food is an important part of a patient’s hospital experience and it’s vital that we get it right when it comes to taste, as well as nutrition,” Mrs Skinner said.
‘‘This new menu supports good nutrition outcomes for patients, especially those who are aged or frail.’’
What do you think of new menu? Your voice: parramattasun.com.au
